On a rainy Monday in January, when the ground was frozen and icicles formed on roofs and gray clouds of breath filled the air, Dallas residents stayed warm guzzling beer and watching football.

From Denton to Rowlett, people filled the seats at bars and huddled around the big-screen TVs, cheering for their teams: Auburn and Oregon. But the camaraderie, the cheap beer and the thrill of competition seemed to matter almost as much as who won the game.

“Wassup! Wassup!” shouted one man at Milo Butterfinger’s in Dallas. He danced in circles around his friends.

“Kick that ball! Kick that ball!” screamed a young blond woman at the Track in Rowlett. Her voice thinned to a whisper later that night.

The screaming man and woman are just part of the recipe for a good sports bar. Milo’s, the Track — these are the best of the best sports bars in the area, or as one Englishman I know likes to call them, “proper pubs.” After visiting dozens of bars in the suburbs, Big D and Cowtown, after tipping back way too many and watching endless games of football and basketball (and don’t forget the game of pool, possibly the most competitive of all) I narrowed the list of the best sports bars down to 10. Each one that made the cut has something different to offer, whether it’s darts, cheap pitchers of beer or beautiful women in fishnets and barely there tops (or men with sculpted biceps and chiseled chins, whichever you prefer).

My methodology for finding the bars was simple. I used Facebook, e-mail and mass texts to ask for tips on good sports bars. I compiled a list of recommended spots and barhopped my way through it, one by one. Not all the bars were impressive. Some were awful, merely boxes on a road with a few kegs thrown in for good measure. One place took a look at my friends, clad in sweatshirts and jeans, and promptly informed us that there was a two-hour wait. Some joints, disguising themselves as sports bars, were really hideouts for yuppies who sat in leather chairs and sipped expensive cognac. There was no shouting at these bars.

To make the list, the bars had to meet the usual requirements: lots of TVs, friendly servers, good grub, reasonably priced drinks. However, the most important ingredient was the crowd. A strong following of regulars is a sure sign the owner and staff know sports well. If the crowd in a sports bar is silent when Dirk slam-dunks against the Spurs, it can’t be a good sports bar. It simply can’t.

Our picks are listed in no particular order. We know you have your favorites, too.

Three Sheets Bar

It’s not what you might think at first glance. This off-the-beaten-path bar on the fringe of Deep Ellum has valet parking and drinks can get pricey, but inside, the atmosphere is relaxed and cozy. The front room has a fireplace and a couch you can sink into, and outside on the patio, there are three giant flat-screen TVs.

When Virginia Tech played Stanford, the vodka flowed freely to one football-loving group. Trey Mehos of Denton was out for a night with friends and, while taking a shot, spilled some Belvedere. He paused, stuck his hand on the table, mopped up the liquid and licked his fingers. “It’s premium vodka!” he said to his friends when they looked at him with dropped jaws.

Mehos and others who enjoy premium liquor will be happy to know that for the Super Bowl, Three Sheets will have $3 shots of Jägermeister, Rumple Minze, Patrón XO and Stoli. The patio will be extended 1,000 feet, and a massive 4,000-square-foot tent will be set up outside for a tailgating party, concessions, a DJ and a high-definition projector.

Open every day from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. 3113 Ross Ave., Dallas. 214-298-3836. www.threesheetsdallas.com.

Milo Butterfinger’s

With cheap, tasty food and servers who get right to the point, Milo’s is one of the best bars for a romping good time. When my friends were out for Auburn vs. Oregon, the server threw some menus on the table, sat down and promptly said, “$6 pitchers for Miller Lite, $7 for Shiner. Whadda ya want?” Now that’s a server who knows her game.

But it’s not just the food and the service. The bar is stacked with TVs — 16 in all — and there are two 65-inch versions at each end for game watchers. You’ve got darts for halftime, and can check out shadow-box tributes to old Dallas sports teams that hang on the wall. The only drawback: The crowds can get so excited that you might have to strain to hear the game. But who wants a silent crowd, anyway?

Open every day from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. 5645 SMU Blvd., Dallas. 214-368-9212.

PourHouse Sports Grill

The PourHouse is a bit different for a Denton bar and grill. Smoke doesn’t cling to your clothes for days after you leave, and the place doesn’t have a divelike feel. Inside, the PourHouse is decorated with dark, rich colors, and the bar area is open and cozy. There are five huge flat-screens in the bar area alone.

The servers are friendly, the margherita pizza is slathered with extra fresh mozzarella, and the burgers are juicy and moist. Nonbeer drinkers can choose from an array of $4 martinis, including the tasty Wedding Cake version, and there are 12 options for $4 shots, including whiskey, vodka and tequila.

The best thing about Nick’s is all the TVs. Everywhere you look, you’re surrounded. There are at least 26 hanging on the walls and a small flat-screen hooked to every booth. If you want a regular place to watch a game, this would be it. During the Auburn vs. Oregon game, the regulars lined the bar area and shouted at one another, and the bartender and servers handled the overflow in the booths well.

The portions of food are huge. For about $5, you can get enough queso and chips to feed four people, and the tortilla soup is served in a bowl so big it looks like it was made to feed Disney’s Beast.

Open every day from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. 3536 Lakeview Parkway, Rowlett. 972-412-7777.

Humperdink’s (Northwest Highway)

The Humperdink’s on Northwest Highway knows what Texas is all about — bigger is better. Here, you can watch a game on not just one, but two 120-inch screens. You can sip from a 100-ounce beer, brewed in-house.

For those who don’t want to put on a few pounds, Humperdink’s also offers a “skinny drink menu” — which is rare in a sports bar. Choose from a 95-calorie lemon-drop chiller or a 78-calorie mojito, munch on some juicy lemon-flavored chicken breast, and your buns will be none the wiser.

The drawback with Humperdink’s is that it is so large, it doesn’t feel intimate. It’d be a great spot for a party, but not a place you’d go every day. But the 10 freshly brewed beers, the giant menu (16 different burgers, pizza, pasta, wings, steak) more than make up for it.

Open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to midnight. 2208 W. Northwest Highway, Dallas. 214-358-4159. www.humperdinks.com. See the website for info on other Humperdink’s locations.

Hooligan’s

This small, cozy bar on Denton’s charming square has just enough space that you’re likely to find a booth on a good game night, but it isn’t so big the servers can’t deliver drinks on time. However, don’t settle for the first booths. Walk upstairs and find a sofa to get the best view. The four flat-screens lined up at the top of the wall offer a variety of games to watch on any night of the week, and the bartender is smart enough to keep them all tuned to one channel if there’s an important game on (say Rangers vs. Yankees).

If you’re watching an afternoon game, order some food off the lunch menu. It’s only $4.99, and if it’s not delivered in 15 minutes or less, it’s free. There’s other good grub, too — the fried fish is flaky and fresh and is served with a nice tartar sauce, and the waffle fries are cut thick and fried crispy.

In the way of drinks, choose from 10 draft beers or 29 bottled beers. Weekly specials range from $1.25 domestic drafts to $3.50 Texas Teas. And don’t forget the liquor — there are at least 24 specialty shots to choose from.

Open every day from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. 104 N. Locust St., Denton. 940-442-6950. www.hooligansonline.com.

The Wild Rooster Bar

Even during a lunchtime visit when only game highlights were playing, Wild Rooster was half-filled with patrons glued to the TVs. The bar is decorated with everything Texas and everything local. Rahr brewery signs line the walls and pictures of local musicians smile at you from every nook and cranny.

A giant flat screen is the centerpiece on the main wall, and three others surround it. There are two TVs above the bar for those who like to keep close to the kegs. The fare is cheap and tasty. The jalapeño burger is slathered with a specially flavored cream cheese, and the fries are cut a bit thin. My friend munched on chicken wings but seemed more interested in the cute young waitress who brought them to him. On Thursdays, enjoy a $5 pitcher of beer. Sunday is even better — it’s happy hour all day.

If you’re feeling lucky, or are in the mood for a bar with a menu as vast as its beer selection, head to Delaney’s on West Seventh Street in Fort Worth. The bar opened less than a year ago, and all the walls are decked out with multiple TVs for game watching. The high-backed booths are the most comfortable seats in the place, and there are so many TVs that you can see one from every corner.

The atmosphere is less like a sports bar than like a nice restaurant with high ceilings and dark decor, but don’t be fooled: The Irish love their sports as much as their beer, says owner Blue Tate. The pub features more than 50 beers on tap, and every day, there’s a different $2 draft and $3 drink. Pair your beer with anything you like — the menu features pizza, croissants, soup, salad, fish, steak. The servers, clad in fishnets, and the kilt-wearing bartender are top-notch and as friendly as they come.

Woody’s isn’t your typical sports bar — it doesn’t serve food, and the patrons seem to lose interest in the game quickly when their teams aren’t winning —but it’s a great place to watch a game. As with many of the bars near Oak Lawn and Cedar Springs, the clientele is mostly gay, though everyone is welcome, says general manager Chris Weinfurter.

Decorated with flags of Texas teams and shirtless pictures of ex-pro centerfielder Brady Anderson, Woody’s clearly loves its sports as much as the techno music that pumps through the high-definition speakers. The TVs surround you no matter where you sit. One night, the gigantic projection screen behind the bar featured a Mavericks game in exquisite detail. Half of the crowd played pool, and the other half stopped watching the game when the Mavs were down by double digits.

The bartenders are friendly and deliver speedy service. If you’re more of a liquor lover than a beer fan, enjoy chilled Southern Comfort and Jägermeister on tap.

Open every day from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. 4011 Cedar Springs Road, Dallas. 214-520-6629. www.dallaswoodys.com.

The Track Grill and Bar

This is the bar that lives up to its name. The walls are painted a deep red and finished with chrome trim. Numbered beer mugs hang on the wall, and on every table, the salt and pepper shakers are arranged neatly on the bed of a silver truck. The Track is all about NASCAR, but other sports get their due, too. In the last minutes of the Auburn vs. Oregon game, the bartender chastised the regulars for leaving the screens even for a moment. “How can you go to the bathroom at a time like this?” he asked a young woman.

Regulars are treated well here. For a $35 annual fee, you can get happy-hour prices all day, every day.

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